Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 9

“A lantern festival?” Shang Qianye asked curiously. “Is there one happening down the mountain today?”

“Yes!” Gu Yunqing replied with a smile. “It’s the last day of the market fair, and they always have a lantern festival performance. Many Lingxiao disciples have already gone down. Let’s go explore too!”

Shang Qianye was about to decline, but then she suddenly thought of Luo Jiu.

Luo Jiu always acted as if she had no interest in anything, cold and aloof, as if even a second glance was too much effort. But in truth, she adored strange and unusual trinkets. Whenever Shang Qianye went on long journeys, she would bring back souvenirs for Luo Jiu. Luo Jiu would always declare them boring, yet she would play with them for days.

A lantern festival would undoubtedly have plenty of interesting things. If Shang Qianye brought back a couple of items, she was sure it would please Luo Jiu.

“Alright,” Shang Qianye agreed. “Wait for me to change, and we’ll head down the mountain together.”

Down below, the lantern festival was in full swing.

Several towns nestled at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Due to their proximity to the Lingxiao Sect, these towns had become hubs for wandering cultivators and merchants. Over time, they had grown into bustling settlements. Now, during the lantern festival, the main street was packed with throngs of people.

Men and women, young and old, mothers with children, and young couples holding hands—everyone carried a flower lantern, their faces beaming with smiles.

“Senior Sister!” Gu Yunqing pointed to a nearby lantern vendor. “Let’s buy flower lanterns too!”

Before Shang Qianye could even agree, Yunqing had already dragged her to the stall. Other customers crowded around the display, and Yunqing carefully picked through the lanterns until she chose a rabbit-shaped one. Holding it up, she asked Shang Qianye, “Senior Sister, isn’t this adorable?”

“Adorable,” Shang Qianye nodded, her gaze shifting to the other lanterns on the stall.

Besides the rabbit lantern, there were rooster, phoenix, and dragon-shaped lanterns. Shang Qianye’s eyes immediately fell on the lotus lantern in the center. Its red and white color scheme and blooming lotus petals made it exceptionally beautiful.

Luo Jiu would love this, Shang Qianye thought.

In the end, Yunqing took the rabbit lantern, Shang Qianye chose the lotus lantern, and she paid for both.

As they strolled through the lantern festival, Shang Qianye spotted many interesting things. She had deliberately brought extra money that day, intending to buy anything that caught her eye. The entire walk was a shopping spree, her pockets filling with fun trinkets.

Gu Yunqing’s eyes darted around as she watched Shang Qianye buy a sandalwood wooden fish and tuck it into her Cosmic Pouch. Munching on a candied hawthorn skewer, she asked curiously, “Senior Sister, why are you buying so much stuff?”

“Just because,” Shang Qianye replied. “They look interesting.”

Gu Yunqing blinked in confusion. Interesting? If they’re interesting, why buy them just to stuff them in a pouch without even playing with them?

Just as Gu Yunqing was about to press for more details, her eyes suddenly landed on two familiar figures standing by the riverbank. Her eyes widened, and she grabbed Shang Qianye’s arm, pulling her to look.

Shang Qianye followed her gaze and saw Qin Wangyue holding a river lantern, her head tilted slightly as she spoke to Yu Shiyan, who stood opposite her.

The usually stern Elder Yu wore a tender smile as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from Qin Wangyue’s temple. Then, he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.

Shang Qianye: “!!!”

Gu Yunqing: “!!!”

The Medicine Cultivation Elder and his disciple really have a close relationship!

Perhaps their gazes were too intense, because Qin Wangyue turned around and immediately spotted the two standing in the crowd. Shang Qianye stood rooted to the spot, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Gu Yunqing awkwardly waved.

Qin Wangyue paused slightly before looking up at Yu Shiyan.

Yu Shiyan had also noticed the pair. Her brow furrowed slightly, as if she intended to approach them, but Qin Wangyue tugged at her sleeve. Qin Wangyue spoke briefly to Yu Shiyan, whose gaze lingered on Shang Qianye and Gu Yunqing before she nodded slightly and left.

“Qin… Senior Sister?”

Qin Wangyue approached, carrying a river lantern, and greeted them with a warm smile. “Qianye, Yunqing, you’re here for the lantern festival too?”

Gu Yunqing glanced at Shang Qianye before replying softly, “Senior Sister Qin, are you out with Elder Yu… Shiyan too?”

“Yes,” Qin Wangyue confirmed, her gentle expression unchanged. “I wanted to come tonight, and she made time to accompany me. Yunqing, could you keep this a secret for us? Please don’t tell anyone.”

“I’ll definitely keep Senior Sister Qin’s secret!” Gu Yunqing declared, brandishing her candied hawthorn skewer with righteous fervor.

Shang Qianye gazed intently at Qin Wangyue for a long moment before finally asking, “Senior Sister Qin, could I speak with you alone for a few minutes?”

By the riverbank, Qin Wangyue found a secluded spot before turning to face Shang Qianye, who had been following behind. “Let’s talk here, Qianye. What did you want to discuss?”

“Senior Sister Qin,” Shang Qianye said after a moment of careful consideration, summoning her courage. “I’ve been wondering… does Elder Yu have any objections to your relationship? After all, she’s an Elder of the Lingxiao Sect, and you’re her disciple. Surely there must be concerns?”

Qin Wangyue’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes flickered over Shang Qianye before she couldn’t help but smile.

“Qianye,” Qin Wangyue said with a gentle smile, “what you really want to ask about is your feelings for Elder Luo Jiu, isn’t it?”

Shang Qianye’s eyes widened in surprise.

Qin Wangyue continued softly, “I’ve noticed for a long time that you’re in love with Elder Luo Jiu. But she’s always treated you as just a disciple, which must be frustrating. You wanted to ask me how I managed to be with Yu Shiyan, didn’t you?”

Shang Qianye was astonished at how Qin Wangyue knew her secret feelings. After all, she believed she had concealed them perfectly over the years, never acting inappropriately toward Luo Jiu. From all appearances, she was simply Luo Jiu’s devoted disciple.

“Senior Sister Qin, you…”

“Actually, I’m just like you, so I understand how you feel,” Qin Wangyue said. “When I first fell in love with Shi Yan, I thought I’d always be just her disciple. But after everything we went through, I realized that love can’t be hidden. Even if you keep your mouth shut, your eyes will betray you. As long as I was near her, I couldn’t resist wanting to be closer.”

“Later, I tried to leave Lingxiao, but I ran into trouble. In a life-or-death moment, Shi Yan rushed to save me. That’s when I realized she wasn’t completely indifferent to me either.”

Qin Wangyue turned to Shang Qianye, her gaze earnest. “I’m a few years older than you, Qianye. I can see that Luo Jiu isn’t heartless toward you either. Perhaps all you need is the right opportunity.”

Shang Qianye asked, stunned, “A turning point? Senior Sister Qin, do you mean…”

“A turning point that could change the relationship between you two.”

Qin Wangyue’s words acted like a magical incantation, instantly clarifying everything for Shang Qianye.

A turning point?

Isn’t that… the love gu inside me?

Because of the love gu, she had to get close to Luo Jiu every seven days. Although their interactions had been strained the first two times, Shang Qianye could sense a change in Luo Jiu.

The fact that Luo Jiu had punished herself over this matter, and that she was angry and ignoring Shang Qianye, didn’t that prove their relationship was evolving?

The love gu was that turning point.

Shang Qianye felt as if she had been struck by enlightenment, finally understanding Qin Wangyue’s words. Still, she pretended to ponder for a moment before asking, “And if this turning point arises, what should I do?”

Qin Wangyue’s eyes flickered slightly, a smile playing on her lips. “Naturally, you should seize that turning point tightly.”

After the Lantern Festival, Shang Qianye and Gu Yunqing returned to the mountain together.

Qin Wangyue and Yu Shiyan had left after their conversation with Shang Qianye, and their current whereabouts were unknown.

Shang Qianye’s mind was still consumed by Qin Wangyue’s words and the matter of the love gu. Naturally, she had lost all interest in further festivities. After accompanying Gu Yunqing to release a river lantern, she headed straight back to her residence.

“Senior Sister,” Gu Yunqing said, noticing Shang Qianye’s distracted state. “Are you troubled by something today? You didn’t even stay to release the river lantern with me.”

Shang Qianye seemed not to hear her. After a long pause, she finally snapped out of her reverie and realized they had reached the front of the mountain. “It’s getting late,” she said to Gu Yunqing. “You should go back early. I’m going to rest too.”

Gu Yunqing stared in disbelief.

Before Gu Yunqing could react, Shang Qianye cast a spell on the Mountain Gate’s teleportation array, and vanished instantly.

Gu Yunqing stomped her foot in frustration, but there was nothing she could do about it. She huffed angrily and returned to her own residence.

Meanwhile, in the Jade Court Forest…

Though Shang Qianye had claimed she was going to rest, she immediately cast a spell to transport herself to Luo Jiu’s residence. Still carrying the lotus lantern she had bought, she noticed the light was still on inside Luo Jiu’s room and strode over without hesitation.

“Master, are you asleep?”

Shang Qianye stood outside Luo Jiu’s room, knocking softly and calling out in a low voice.

There was no response from within. After a moment’s hesitation, Shang Qianye guessed that Luo Jiu probably wasn’t asleep yet. She pushed the door open a crack and peered inside.

The room was empty.

Shang Qianye stood outside, a hint of disappointment on her face. Seeing the light on, she had assumed Luo Jiu was inside. Where had she gone?

I bought so many nice things today, she thought.

Having come all this way, she couldn’t just turn back. Shang Qianye decided to search for Luo Jiu first.

Fortunately, though the Jade Court Forest was vast, the living quarters were relatively small. After circling through the main hall and inner rooms, Shang Qianye finally spotted Luo Jiu in the rear courtyard.

Bathed in moonlight, Luo Jiu stood within a deep blue array, clad in a white robe. Her eyes were tightly closed, her hands formed a complex hand seal, and her chin was slightly tucked as she lowered her head. The array beneath her feet pulsed with faint spiritual energy, swirling around her and lifting strands of her long black hair.

Thump-thump—

Shang Qianye could almost hear her own heart pounding in her chest. She gazed transfixed at Luo Jiu, unable to tear her eyes away.

Suddenly, Shang Qianye remembered Qin Wangyue’s words from the lantern festival:

Luo Jiu isn’t indifferent to you. Perhaps all that’s missing between you two is the right opportunity.